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About

Ivan Pinson is a robotics researcher whose work sits at the intersection of climbing robotics, non-destructive testing (NDT), and offshore infrastructure inspection. His research addresses a critical industrial challenge: the automated inspection of structurally complex and environmentally hostile environments, particularly mooring chains used to stabilise offshore floating platforms. Pinson's most significant contributions involve the design, simulation, and prototyping of magnetic adhesion tracked-wheel robotic platforms capable of navigating the irregular, three-dimensional geometry of mooring chain links — structures notoriously difficult to inspect due to their complex topology and exposure to extreme maritime conditions such as high tidal waves and storms. His 2018 paper on adaptable legged-magnetic adhesion robots, his most cited work with 15 citations, introduced key innovations in robotic adaptability for misaligned chain geometries, advancing a field still considered nascent at the time of publication. Complementing this, his work on NDT robots for petrochemical storage tank inspection demonstrates a broader vision for robotic solutions that reduce costly operational outages across the energy sector. With a growing citation record across multiple robotics and inspection venues, Pinson's research is helping lay the technical foundation for safer, more cost-effective automated infrastructure integrity assessment.